It is a shame that Live 17 didn't come out as if there was ever a year that 2k looked a little shakey with so many unhappy customers it was this year so I really hope that EA gets it together and addresses all there problems so that nba live 18 two years in the making is the total package game that can finally once again be classed as "competition" with 2k.

I think it still would've had to be really impressive to move the needle against NBA 2K17, and have a lot more depth than it seemed like it was going to have in terms of game modes. A fully-featured NBA Live 18 is probably going to stand a better chance, but it's going to have to really bring it. Roster editing, deeper game modes, and improved gameplay...like you said, it will need to be the total package. Not perfect, of course, because that's not a realistic expectation. But it does need to be vastly improved, a viable alternative, and do something better than NBA 2K18 in terms of modes or features, while being fun to play.

I'd probably consider myself a live fanboy for nostalgia sake but if live 18 is missing some of key features such roster editing or a deeper dynasty mode and the devs throw in the phase "next year" i think il think twice about purchasing.

Last edited by mp3 on Thu Feb 02, 2017 9:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Yes, I am actually happy they are doing a regular release, and focusing on that. I do feel like we have had this song and dance before though, where they said they needed more time to develop the game, and when they released the game, it was not very good at all. It could have to do more with the minds behind the operation (Maybe not a full understanding on how basketball works and flows, maybe not understanding the full experience needed). I can't give them excuses anymore, they continue to release games that have incomplete modes, herky jerky animations, missing modes, etc.

Get true basketball minds in on this to yell at them, maybe that will help. Haha.

The thing is - and we went into more detail about this in the latest episode of the NLSC Podcast - the language they're using this time around is different. When they've announced delays and cancellations in the past, they've referred to the product not meeting the standards they want to set, needing more time and polish, and so on. This time, they're talking about how they're so pleased with the product, they want to flesh it out into a full release, instead of whatever The Drive to NBA Live was going to be.

Now, it was an investor call, so it would be fair to suggest that there's obviously going to be a positive spin put on it, and game previews in general are always going to focus on positivity and hype. However, EA have been surprisingly open about the struggles of NBA Live, and this was certainly different language in terms of talking about cancellations and future plans. Like I said, less "We need more time because it isn't good enough yet", and more "This is too good to be a stripped down/demo release".

With that said, NBA Live 18 certainly does have to bring it as a fully featured title.

Andrew wrote:We already submitted an NBA Live 17 Wishlist, which covered things fairly comprehensively. I suppose if there's anything significant we missed, we could send in a supplementary list.

If LIVE wants to make a big splash, and with this extra development time, I think they should put out a PC version of the game for Steam. This is two years of development time for them, and they are looking to come in strong and really compete. If they can add/enhance game modes, put out a PC version of the game, and fix the herky jerky animations, they can make a huge splash.

I'm pretty sure they are bringing back Westbrook for the cover. They've changed the app picture a couple times, all being Westbrook. Usually when they do this for their other mobile games it's different players from the cover of each years game.

This really is the year Live could step in and make some noise. And, it may be the last chance from the loyal fans.

I wish other companies would get back in the fray and make basketball games. We used to have games from 989 Sports, Konami, etc. Did 2K really get so big that the other companies were like "Screw it, I'm outta here"?

EA missed a huge opportunity. If it was just a preview game with a couple of modes, they could have gained some interest and got some feedback before 18's release later this year. It could have been sold at a lower price, and they could give a discount to the Live release later this year to people who bought the game/preview.

So yeah, what they had was "really good" so they say, but they decide to continue failing with delays and cancellations. No trust in their community. No innovation. No identity. No confidence in their product.

One thing I would like to see, is more pump up for the new game. Remember when NBA Live had commercials? When it seemed it was all over the place? I havn't seen it in years. Yes, they put out a demo, but EA needs to spend the money to get people really hyped for NBA Lives return. Maybe even just make a HUGE deal about "this being the year", and use that hype in commercial spots/online etc.

Part of me believes they're using Live 16 as a guinea pig, cause I keep seeing new animations. Could be cause I moved sliders around also, but the game seems to be playing a lot better. I don't think they're allowed to tell us that they're doing it, but it sure feels like it.

ThaLiveKing wrote:Part of me believes they're using Live 16 as a guinea pig, cause I keep seeing new animations. Could be cause I moved sliders around also, but the game seems to be playing a lot better. I don't think they're allowed to tell us that they're doing it, but it sure feels like it.

This is interesting. I might have to play it for XB1 and see how it feels.

I went back and played NBA Live 16 last night for AWHILE. And here are my biggest gripes:

1. Button reactiveness: There is quite a bit of delay when I push and button and it happens in the game, this is not my TV (monitor), as it only seems to do it with this game. I also read some complaints from others who were having this same issue. Its not online LAG either, I was playing offline.

2. Dribbling moves: I like the combinations that can be completed, however, the moves are just not pronounced enough. Crossovers and behind the backs in real life are faster and the players dribble the ball out wider (Hold out wider for release, and catch out wider). The dribbling moves feel small (with lack of a better term) in scope, it doesn't really feel like you are beating anybody off the dribble, it looks like they are just there for show.

3. Animations: Wow, they are so herky jerky. Going into a jump shot on the move feels like NBA Live 2000, and actually Live 2000 may have felt better. It looks so unnatural. The post moves (hooks etc) look completely unnatural. Nothing I made felt good, it looked pretty damn bad. Also, the signature shots are WAY off for so many players. I like the dribbling up court animations for the most part, but otherwise I cringe.

4. Mode Depth: Horrible... can't even play a 2 player dynasty (franchise).

What I DO like:

1. Atmosphere: Great NBA arena atmosphere, more alive than 2k.

2. Lighting: Love the lighting on the players/court/crowd. It feels alive.

3. Presentation: No, Breen and Van Gundy are not perfect, but it feels like a legit ESPN broadcast. And I love the pre-game/post game and halftime. 2k could learn something here. I feel the presentation in live is much stronger.

For Live 18 to flourish, they HAVE to make the players move around better on the court, more realistic, and HAVE to give us an immersive multiplayer franchise mode. With gameplay like 16, it will just do horribly once again.

From the people who playtested The Drive to NBA Live/NBA Live 17/whatever, there are whispers that the dribbling and animations were really, really good, so that's promising. Roster editing and deeper modes are a must on top of that, though, especially now that they've foregone the Q1 release in favour of the fully-featured release in the Fall.

Dee4Three wrote:I went back and played NBA Live 16 last night for AWHILE. And here are my biggest gripes:

1. Button reactiveness: There is quite a bit of delay when I push and button and it happens in the game, this is not my TV (monitor), as it only seems to do it with this game. I also read some complaints from others who were having this same issue. Its not online LAG either, I was playing offline.

2. Dribbling moves: I like the combinations that can be completed, however, the moves are just not pronounced enough. Crossovers and behind the backs in real life are faster and the players dribble the ball out wider (Hold out wider for release, and catch out wider). The dribbling moves feel small (with lack of a better term) in scope, it doesn't really feel like you are beating anybody off the dribble, it looks like they are just there for show.

3. Animations: Wow, they are so herky jerky. Going into a jump shot on the move feels like NBA Live 2000, and actually Live 2000 may have felt better. It looks so unnatural. The post moves (hooks etc) look completely unnatural. Nothing I made felt good, it looked pretty damn bad. Also, the signature shots are WAY off for so many players. I like the dribbling up court animations for the most part, but otherwise I cringe.

4. Mode Depth: Horrible... can't even play a 2 player dynasty (franchise).

What I DO like:

1. Atmosphere: Great NBA arena atmosphere, more alive than 2k.

2. Lighting: Love the lighting on the players/court/crowd. It feels alive.

3. Presentation: No, Breen and Van Gundy are not perfect, but it feels like a legit ESPN broadcast. And I love the pre-game/post game and halftime. 2k could learn something here. I feel the presentation in live is much stronger.

For Live 18 to flourish, they HAVE to make the players move around better on the court, more realistic, and HAVE to give us an immersive multiplayer franchise mode. With gameplay like 16, it will just do horribly once again.

the button reaction in the paint is way too slow, I hope the paint game is much more responsive in Live 18

Andrew wrote:Interior defense also needs to be a lot better. Layups should be high percentage, but they're basically guaranteed buckets in NBA Live 16.

Agreed. I think one of the issues that causes that is defense. The reaction time for adjusting defensively both on ball and through help defenders plays a part in contesting drives and layups. Nerfing percentage will just cause outrage over layups that should be gimmes. Deterring the ball handler on the drive to force a pass or attempt a tough shot should be the goal. It can lead to more of a flowing offense with kick outs as the ball handler starts to recognize where the help comes from.

Physicality has to count. There are some decent physics in NBA Live 16, and hopefully they're even better with the Frostbite engine, but collisions simply don't impede offensive players as much as they should. Even though NBA 2K17 sometimes feels like it has too many missed layups, it's closer to reality than NBA Live 16, since the defense can adequately crowd the lane, forcing tough layup attempts and making it harder for players to waltz into the paint and dunk at will. Layups and dunks should be high percentage, but there should also be altered and deterred attempts, and more shots should be altered than blocked.

Andrew wrote:Physicality has to count. There are some decent physics in NBA Live 16, and hopefully they're even better with the Frostbite engine, but collisions simply don't impede offensive players as much as they should. Even though NBA 2K17 sometimes feels like it has too many missed layups, it's closer to reality than NBA Live 16, since the defense can adequately crowd the lane, forcing tough layup attempts and making it harder for players to waltz into the paint and dunk at will. Layups and dunks should be high percentage, but there should also be altered and deterred attempts, and more shots should be altered than blocked.

In 2k17 career, only the opposing defense does that. My teammates will stand there and watch someone go right to the basket without moving as much as an eyelash. But what can I expect from players who stand there and let rebounds from missed free throws hit them in the face.